The Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Fawkner Park ($4.60) has held off the fast-finishing Wyclif ($26) to claim victory in the Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Saturday afternoon.
The son of Zoffany was on the one-week backup after finishing mid-field in the Group 3 Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick last Saturday, proving a masterstroke from connections to race again, storming away with the prize courtesy of a classy ride by Tyler Schiller.
There was a muddling tempo thanks to the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Bear On The Loose ($10), with Regan Bayliss attempting to do no work aboard the four-year-old gelding from barrier 12.
It gave Hinged ($5.50) and Nonconformist ($7.50) the saloon passage turning for home, but it was a mid-race move by Tyler Schiller paying the ultimate dividends, taking off with 600m left to travel.
Fawkner Park still had plenty of work to do fighting off the challenge of Wyclif and even Stockman ($41) making strong inroads at a monster price with the top Australian bookmakers, with Schiller throwing Fawkner Park over the line to get his preparation back on track.
2024 Rosehill Gold Cup Race Replay – Fawkner Park
Co-trainer Rob Archibald was on course to speak post-race and credited his team on getting Fawkner Park back to his brilliant best.
“Full credit to the team at home, they’ve worked very hard to get him right,” said Archibald.
“He just wasn’t appreciating Melbourne way, for whatever reason. And he’s just gradually building confidence since he’s come back (to Sydney).
“I thought Tyler (Schiller) made a brave decision to make a move early in the race but he just summed it up that there was no speed on. He got outside leader and he was just strong late. It’s just a big effort from everybody and I’m very pleased.
Schiller spoke to the positive tactics being a major reason for the success as well.
“I tried to be a touch more positive on him,” said Schiller.
“He’s not an overly blessed horse with gait speed but he did jump well today which surprised me. I thought he loved the ground.
“It’s just got a little bit of moisture in it but he seems to still love the firm base. And he’s just awfully tough. I put him into the race when I needed to. He’s run 2400m up in Queensland so no doubt why he couldn’t do it today.
““All the congrats go to Rob and Annabel and the team. He liked Melbourne way but he just wouldn’t quicken that way.
“I think he just likes getting onto his Melbourne leg up here when he goes quicker in the straight. When he changes from his right lead to his left lead, he finds that extension. Whereas in Melbourne he goes from his left to his right and it just doesn’t seem to suit him. He’s a strange horse but he’s got plenty of ability.”
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